Matsu dropped his hand slowly, looking at the two. "You kn-NNNGH!" Matsu let out a cry as pain suddenly exploded through his arm. He gripped what was left of his shoulder and he slowly dropped to his knees. Spots danced in his vision as he swayed and tried to keep from passing out.The pain...the heat, the illness, it was all to much for him to bare. He gulped for air trying to steady himself.However, his gold eyes finally rolled back and he slumped forward into the dirt, passing out.

Abeni stuck close to Saiki and gave a small frown behind her mask. "You live in one place.....all the time?"

Hati smiled brightly at Noa. "I think they'd be asking you to do water-bending tricks if you did..and you don't know any......do you?" She shook her head and looked at Hau. "You have beautiful silks." For once, even Hati look impressed. "We didn't have this in Omashu- well we did- but it was rather subpar."

Post by Raito on Apr 28, 2008 18:48:35 GMT -5

As soon as the opportunity came. Rashad hopped off the sandsailor and hurried off into the city; into the bustle of the crowd. A feeling of nostalgia came over him as he had not been in a city like this since his home in Ba Sing Se. Just the workaholic sandbenders he had been around his recent years of running away from home to his brother among them. That reminded him, "I have to write my brother. He probably has no idea what's become of me since I ended up on the sandsailor."Rashad walked through the crowd, now away from the rest of the group on the sandsailor, maybe sooner or later he'd run into them, pherhaps another day. As he understood it, this is where most of them would make their new home. He went around, looking for a kiosk that might be selling blank scrolls and writing utensils. Feeling the heat, he undid his face-cover and hood he had put on while riding the sandsailor, letting it fall behind him.

Post by TGM on Apr 28, 2008 22:23:41 GMT -5

"Matsu?" Fenny asked concernedly as he winced and fell to his knees. "Matsu!" she reached out to catch him, but Pao held her back. The tall young man walked around her and knelt next to Matsu, checking his pulse before rolling him onto his side. Pao froze when he saw how bad the wound was: the bandages had been soaked nearly black with blood. He looked up at Fenny. "There's a small clinic around the corner, I'm sure they'll let us borrow for a moment. Help me lift him."Fenny nodded, and with Pao was able to lift Matsu of the ground. Breathless, they were able to get him to the door, where the doctor residing immediately helped them move Matsu to a cot. After Pao had a quick word with the man, he disappeared and brought back a teapot full of cold water."Is... he going to be alright?" Fenny asked hesitantly as Pao began to bend the water over the wound. He glanced up from his work and their eyes met. For a moment it was as if none of the years had passed, and Fenny felt like a little kid once more. "If anyone can help him, it's you." she pleaded, eyes shining with admiration. Pao turned back to his work, unable to keep her gaze now. "He will make it through. But since you just got into the city, I'd advise you go find lodgings for you and your friend. By nightfall every inn will be full, and houses will not be available again until after the festival."Fenny stood up at his words. "That shouldn't take long. I saw a booth just up the road..." she paused and turned when she reached the door. "Pao?""...Yes?""I have to know...""We will speak on this later." Pao said swiftly. "Right now, I need to concentrate on your friend.""Oh... Of course." Fenny nodded farewell and went back out into the street.

Post by pirateliz on Apr 30, 2008 16:03:34 GMT -5

Matsu was aware of a dull throbbing now, and maybe, his shoulder felt wet. He moaned and slowly opened his eyes. "Where am I? I didn't lose my other arm did I?" He looked around, looking confuesd. "Where's...Fenny?"

A Far Cry from home is moving to Here "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"- Adam Savage, Mythbusters

Post by TGM on May 1, 2008 0:23:09 GMT -5

Pao looked up from his work, the leaf in his hair flopping askew. He had been lucky enough to pass the better part of an hour without interruption once Fenny had gone, but now it seemed the man was waking up. "Stay very still." he warned, "We were able to commandeer this office so that I could start healing you, but if you start moving you'll just reopen the wound and give me more work." he looked back down and frowned at the glowing water. "You still have your other arm, but its a wonder how you're functioning at all. Your wound was partially cauterized, but not completely, and since you didn't change the dressings often its gotten badly infected. That, plus the poison traces I'm picking up, should have been enough to shut down your internal organs." the water glowed a little brighter as Pao focused more on the wound. "I can heal the wound, but it seems the infection is reacting to the poison, and the safest way to get rid of that completely is certain herbal teas." Pao paused. He could go on about health forever with his patients, but he was never very good with social things. "Fenny... went to find you rooms for the night. She will be back soon." he managed.

Post by pirateliz on May 1, 2008 0:25:54 GMT -5

"What?" Matsu just look at him confused. Slowly he let out a sigh. Pao's words swam in his head. "Does that mean I'm going to live?" He grunted. Its not like had a choice about changing the dressings, it wasn't like there was a lot of clean cloth available in the middle of a desert.

A Far Cry from home is moving to Here "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"- Adam Savage, Mythbusters

Post by TGM on May 1, 2008 0:35:51 GMT -5

"Yes." said Pao flatly, "You are not going to die. Possibly feel a bit woozy, but that's about it." The man irked him slightly. He was a Fire Nation soldier; Pao could pick out his stance a mile away in the crowd. But he seemed a pretty average fellow. What was he doing with Fenny?"...You're traveling together." Pao said mildly. It wasn't a question as much as a statement.

Post by 8leggdbutterfly on May 1, 2008 0:43:51 GMT -5

You live in one place.....all the time?

Ikram laughed at Abeni's question. "I guess you could say that. We moved to the city after our tribe had some... differences over the war." He smiled to himself, his lips in an ironic twist. "My family doesn't really believe in things that aren't right in front of them. But never mind that - look at this!"

They stood right at the edge, right where the outer fringe melded into the city in wide fields of green. Ikram grinned to himself, always appreciative of beauty. "They farm here," he told Saiki and Abeni. "We have an amazing irrigation system - that's why a lot of people love the city. And it's a lot better than being stuck out in the desert."

He gave half a thought to taking them into the city, leading them around a more scenic route, showing off his knowledge of the city - which was indeed considerable.

But no. They only needed housing. He turned his concentration back to the task at hand and led them through the throng of people, weaving and turning in the crowd smoothly and effortlessly. If nothing else, being a pickpocket taught one how to travel discreetly and efficiently.

"Here at last!" he said, leading them up to a building with a somewhat dingy gold-painted exterior. He turned to look at Saiki. "Since it's not really in the city, I really would recommend using this place as something temporary."

With a rather wicked grin, he said, "I stay here on occasion myself, actually. My family lives near East Petal, but when I can't be bothered to go home..." He shrugged. "Nice, affordable place - and convenient location."

Post by pirateliz on May 1, 2008 1:14:14 GMT -5

Matsu glanced back at Pao, he didn't like feeling vunerable around this man. "Yes, sir." He said shortly.

Abeni gasped in awe and stared at the green, and almost had to be dragged away from the beautiful scenery. "What was that, what was that? What was all that green, was that plants?" She stared up at Ikram and Saiki, begging for answers.

A Far Cry from home is moving to Here "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"- Adam Savage, Mythbusters

Post by darkblood_alchemist on May 1, 2008 14:53:17 GMT -5

((OOC-- that picture's amazing Liz! Your friend did a great job on it))

" What was all that green, was that plants?"

Saiki stared at the wide expanse of green; even she had to admit that it was impressive, especially in the middle of the desert. "They're farms. This is where food is grown for the city," she replied, with a glance at Ikram to make sure her guess was right. Poor child's probably never been out of the desert. No wonder she's so excited. She forced her gaze away from the farms and to the building in front of her. It looked clean enough, if a little run down, and it seemed close to the market, which would be good while she was looking for a job.

Icons by me, awesome sig by NightLife is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think. - La BruyereIf at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a dang fool about it. - W.C. Fields

Post by 8leggdbutterfly on May 1, 2008 15:50:01 GMT -5

Ikram grinned to himself at Abeni's question. Clearly, the poor kid hadn't really been around vegetation like that before.

They're farms. This is where food is grown for the city.

Saiki looked over at him to make sure her information was accurate, and he gave a slight nod. He watched her look over the building. "Hopefully this'll help while you're getting on your feet. The outskirts here are mainly for travelers. I don't know if you're interested in living in Lotus City permanently, but further into the city you can find a lot more opportunities."

Post by TGM on May 1, 2008 22:59:42 GMT -5

The man seemed unwilling to give up any information. That was understandable; fire nation citizens new to the city were often very wary at first, in Pao's experience. But it was important he connect with the man, in order to help Fenny. He would have to try a different approach. "..We thought she was dead." Pao said after awhile. "When the caravan was attacked, so many were killed, and many of the dancers were captured. Those of us who escaped tried to track them down again, but apparently they hadn't made good slaves, because we only found bodies. We thought the same of her." Pao gestured more water from the bowl at his side. "When I saw her here, I thought she was a ghost. Or else a trick of the light."

Post by pirateliz on May 2, 2008 18:10:08 GMT -5

"Are we going to find Geming?" Abeni whispered and tugged on Saiki again. All this talk of settling down was scaring her, what about Geming? Wasn't she supposed to stay with him?

Matsu stared at Pao for a moment, and then he looked away. "You seem to think there was something between Lady Fenny and myself. I know nothing of her past."He glanced back up for a moment. "How'd you survive anyway?" If all was true- Fenny had thought everyone dead, what about that man she had come looking for?

Post by darkblood_alchemist on May 3, 2008 13:25:13 GMT -5

Saiki bit her lip as she tried to think of a way to get Abeni's mind of Geming. That lunatic is probably in prison by now. But there's no way I could tell Abeni that. She looked down at Abeni and forced a smile. "We'll find him after we get settled, ok?" Hopefully she'll forget about him by then.

Huojin briskly washed her hands now that she was finished bandaging the youth's wounds. The wounds had appeared old, they had probably been inflicted before he crossed the desert, but they had still required quite a lot of poultices and cleaning. She glanced outside; the sun was lower than it had been before she started and that woman still hadn't come in for her husband's infusion. Looks like I'll just have to deliver it myself. She glanced at her sleeping patient. He'll be fine. He's not in critical condition, and the woman's house isn't too far away. Huojin grabbed the small pot from her workspace and stepped out the door into the city.

((OOC--If Master Pakku doesn't post within the next month or so, I'm going to give his character back to the government so that I can continue to use Huojin without being restrained by his character.))

Icons by me, awesome sig by NightLife is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think. - La BruyereIf at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a dang fool about it. - W.C. Fields

Post by 8leggdbutterfly on May 3, 2008 15:05:40 GMT -5

Ikram watched the exchange between the the two with a vague interest. Saiki seemed slightly distressed by the mention of that "Geming" fellow, and he couldn't help but wonder who he was.

"Good luck with that," he said honestly. The city was fairly big, and it would be no easy task searching for just one person. "Now why don't we go inside and get you two a room?"

((OOC: It's finals time, which means brain death for me. Then I'm gonna have limited internet access for the next week, so I'll be on semi-hiatus from Monday until about the 15th. I'll post when I can, though. Okay guys - see ya later!))